Londonderry Old Home Day

Using apple trees as cover, Revolutionary War soldiers turned a grassy field off Pillsbury Road into a battlefield yesterday.

The reenactment, which was held next to the Historical Society’s blacksmith shop, museum and barn, was part of Londonderry’s 108th Old Home Day celebration yesterday.

Click HERE for the full story by Eric Parry in the Eagle Tribune

Image courtesy LondonderryNH.net

Here are some photos of the great fireworks! Thousands enjoyed the fireworks by the high school on Friday night.

The “Souled Out” band rocked the joint with their great music.

The weather was ideal for watching fireworks.

Thanks to Steve Young for taking these photos.

Written by
Mary Tetreau
Fireworks Princess

The enormous trophy is handed over from the firefighters to the police!

Police Chief Joe Ryan with new officer Bettencourt, an outstanding addition to the team.

Three boys enjoyed the game.

The Police Team celebrates with their new trophy! Look how big it is!

Here a policeman’s daughter helps out with the trophy!

Mom and kids are huge fans!

Written by
Mary Tetreau
Softball Star

Londonderry’s observance of its 108th consecutive Old Home Day dates back to the tradition begun by Gov. Frank Rollins in the late 19th century. As reported in the archives of the Library of Congress, Gov. Rollins proclaimed in 1897, “I wish that in the ear of every son and daughter of New Hampshire, in the summer days, might be heard whispered the persuasive words: “Come back, come back!” Do you not hear the call? What has become of the old home where you were born? Do you not remember it — the old farm back among the hills, with its rambling buildings, its well sweep casting its long shadows, the row of stiff poplar trees, the lilacs and the willows?”

Click HERE for the full column in the Derry News by Londonderry’s Tom Dolan

Two thousand people (most of them kids) attended Kidz Night on Thursday at the Common.

Will and Sean were dazzled by the newly crowned Miss Londonderry, Elysha Greenberg. A friend asked, “Were you born Miss Londonderry?”

Clowns made amazing animal balloons for the young crowd!

Who will win the sack race?

A giant turtle tried to run free!

Surprise guest Shrek and Puss in Boots!

Sean enjoyed his seat on the cannon!

Alex was interested in the Science show at the bandstand.

Mary Tetreau
Big Kid

If bounce houses are your thing, Kidz Night is the place to be!

Kidz Night is on Thursday, Aug 16 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM on the Common. It’s loads of fun for families with children 10 and under!

These girls are thrilled to meet Cinderella and Prince Charming.

The House of the Samurais, Londonderry Dance Academy, Wildlife Encounters, Mad Science Fire and Ice Show, and the Yo Yo People provide live entertainment throughout the festivities.

Police and firefighters add to the fun. You can climb into a fire truck! Make sure you get an official police pencil for back to school! The Blog Queen always gets a pencil to help her write her Old Home Day blog!

See you there!

Mary Tetreau
Blog Queen

The largest event of Old Home Day is the Parade held on Saturday, August 18^th. The entire Middle School parking lot is used for a staging area. With three high school marching bands and numerous other professional units there will be over 1000 individuals preparing to march in this fun parade.

There will be absolutely no parking allowed at the Middle School form 7:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday. Once the parade has left the school all are invited to park at this location. A complete listing of rules and regulation for the parade are listed below.

• All motor and float units shall form in their assigned assembly area not later than 8:30am and all non-motor units shall form in their assigned assembly area not later than 9:00am.
• Throwing objects to spectators along the parade route is absolutely prohibited. You may hand items to spectators, this is Londonderry Police Policy, and it is for the protection and safety of parade spectators.
• ALL FLOATS MUST HAVE DESIGNATED SPOTTERS
• Absolutely no parking at the Londonderry Middle School (parade assembly area).
• Motorized units of any kind shall not be allowed to return to the start of the parade using the parade route until the parade is completed.
• It is highly recommended for life and safety reasons that you meet your children at the end of the parade (Mack’s Apples). Please do not have children try to locate you at the Town Common. THIS IS SERIOUS! A child can easily be lost or seriously injured without proper parental supervision.
• Use of spray or foam material is prohibited.
• The Committee shall have the right to limit the size of or reject any participant group if it deems that it is in the best interest and spirit of the Old Home Day Celebration.
• All parade participants must keep up with the pace of the parade. Failure to maintain a reasonable pace will result in participant removal at an appropriate location. Participants with permission from the Parade Coordinator may be given an opportunity to perform at various parade intervals.
• Failure to comply with any parade rules or direct orders from the Parade Coordinator or Committee members may result in direct expulsion from the parade.

Edythe Dowd had a hard time deciding what she wanted from the Good Humor ice-cream truck that stopped by the Lions Club Pavilion as 160 senior citizens finished their barbecue dinner last night

“Hurry up and decide,” Denise Shanks shouted to her. “Or get back in line.”

Dowd, decked out for the occasion with large dangling earrings and an embroidered jacket, laughed and chose an ice-cream sandwich – which seemed to be the item of choice for most of the crowd.

Senior Night, with members of the Lions Club manning the grill, kicked off the town’s 108th Old Home Day celebration.

Click HERE for the rest of a great story by Suzanne Laurent in the Eagle Tribune

The Senior Cookout was a huge success!

The Lions grilled up delicious hamburgers, and served 165 seniors!

Carole Connolly did the hard work of coordinating the cookout, and Jim and Doris Finch were delighted to pose with her!

The concert by the Windham swing band was fantastic! A fun and musical evening under the stars!

Mary Tetreau
Blog Queen

Governor Lynch is not the only one heading for Londonderry Old Home day this week; look who is making the long walk from Bikini Bottom! We understand many of your childhood friends and super heroes will be on the common Thursday night from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Perhaps even Sponge Bob SquarePants! This event is great for families with children 10 and under!

Governor John Lynch will be at Old Home Day at 2:15 PM to watch the Lancer Drum Line perform and to walk around the common and meet folks.

Got a question for the Governor? Or a hearty “Well done!”? Here’s your chance to spend some quality time with John Lynch.

Give Lynch a big Londonderry welcome!

Mary Tetreau
Blog Kitty

Today at the Londonderry Town Common preparation for the 108^th Old Home Day Celebration began with the official decorating of the bandstand. Last Friday with the help of the Londonderry Fire Department the bunting was hung from the bandstand. Today, Shady Hill Greenhouse decorated the bandstand with a beautiful flower arrangement. With the sponsor posters, and the flowers the bandstand looks quite impressive.

Another new feature this year will be the first time that a live broadcast of the OHD Senior Concert on Wednesday night on the common will be broadcast on LEO 21. John Robinson and John Beaulieu were ringing out the system earlier today.

For more photos and the rest of story click HERE for Londonderry Hometown Online News.

Kidz Night is on Thursday, Aug 16 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM on the Common. It’s loads of fun for families with children 10 and under!
These girls are thrilled to meet Cinderella and Prince Charming.

The House of the Samurais, Londonderry Dance Academy, Wildlife Encounters, Mad Science Fire and Ice Show, and the Yo Yo People provide live entertainment throughout the festivities.

If bounce houses are your thing, Kidz Night is the place to be!

Local public safety officials add to the fun. You can climb into a fire truck!

See you there!

Mary Tetreau
Blog Queen

Looking for a good time? Well we’ve got one for you!

The Senior cookout starts at 5:30 at the Lions Club pavilion on Mammoth Road, across from the Common. The Lions are famous for their burgers and hot dogs and display their cooking skills with flair at the grill.

The cookout is free, but you need tickets. These are available from Carole Connolly at 432-8810.

At 7 PM, settle in on the Common and enjoy a wonderful concert with the 20-piece Windham Swing Band. This concert is a highlight of the Old Home Day celebration.

Bring your appetites and your dancin’ shoes!
Mary Tetreau
OHD Blog Princess

It’s not the Boston or Chicago Marathon, but the annual Lundgren 5K is a summer highlight in Londonderry every year.

This year, the 28th annual incarnation of the race will be held on Aug. 18 at 8 a.m. The event, which is part of Londonderry’s Old Home Days Celebration, is currently one of the oldest running 5Ks in New England.

“It’s a nice race,” said Al Halpern, who has been involved with the race since its early days. “A lot of people come home. Friends and relatives come back. You see people.”

Once again, a good crowd is expected. Last year, a record 225 Londonderry residents finished the race. (The previous record of 217 finishers was set in 2004, the race’s 25th anniversary.)

From a story in the Derry News by Alan Siegel, For the rest of the story Click HERE

The booths have been assigned for this years Old Home Day!  Click on the thumbnail here to see the numbers.  Or if you wish click HERE for a PDF file of the map and the booth assignments.  Once again this year the booths were sold out in record time.  Be sure to get your request in early next year.  This year as in past years many of the Platinum Sponsors have donated their booths back to the Old Home Day Committee for sale to not for profit organizations. 

Booth Locations 2007

1. Taxpayers Association
2. Londonderry Friends of Hockey
3. Londonderry Friends of Hockey
4. Londonderry Friends of Hockey
5. Blue Seal
6. Life Share
7. Bank of America
8. Union Leader
9. Inventioneers
10. KOC 6949
11. YMCA
12. YMCA
13. Pathfinders
14. KOC 10488
15. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
16. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
17. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
18. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
19. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
20. Wildcats Youth and Spirit
21. NH Condo Connection
22. Sweetest Memories
23. St. Mark’s
24. Londonderry Republican Committee
25. Londonderry Christian Church
26. Senior Citizen Inc.
27. LEO
28. LEO
29. Hannaford
30. Project Play
31. American Legion
32. Carlson GMAC
33. St. Peters
34. Blue Lions
35. Blue Lions
36. Troop 426
37. Londonderry Democrats Committee
38. Girl Scouts
39. Prudential Verani
40. Prudential Verani
41. Baptist Church
42. Coldwell Banker
43. Church of the Nazarene
44. Oxford Learning
45. Osborne Books
46. Etz Hayim Synagogue
47. Nutfield Publishing
48. Old Home Day Committee
49. Trailways
50. Discovery Toys
51. Cub Scouts
52. Christian Fellowship Church
53. Christian Fellowship Church
54. Rockingham Orthopedics Association
55. Uncle Benz
56. Shaws
57. House of the Samurai
58. Century 21
59. Caregivers of Derry
60. Alert
61. Derry News
62. Friends of Music
63. Friends of Music
64. Elliot
65. Elliot
66. Elliot
67. Leach Library

Sometimes we have to get up on our hind feet and beg a little for some press.  Thanks to the Derry News for the first online story we can link to.  (The Londonderry Times stories expire, The Union Leader Londonderry Section is not available online, both have done some nice stories on Old Home Day, be sure to take a look!).

The 108th Old Home Day Celebration planned for Aug. 15 to 19 is fast approaching and there is something for everyone in town to enjoy.

Click HERE for the rest of the story by Suzanne Laurent